I finished Ironman Lake Placid 19 months ago.

What do you suppose my 1st thought was?

(I want to sit down?)

Nope.

(I really need to take a shower?)

Maybe my 2nd thought

(I’m never doing this again?)

Actually, quite the opposite.

(WHA???)

My first thought was “I need to sign up right away to do this race again.”

(What do you mean by the word “need”?)

There were mistakes that I HAD to correct.

(Hold my place while I make some popcorn.

There’s an alternate reality series going on inside your head & I’ve got a front row seat.)

Each section of the race: swim, bike and run had mistakes that needed to be corrected.

(But isn’t the montra of Ironman anything is possible bun race day?)

That didn’t matter. All that mattered was my swim was too slow.

(2.4 miles in 1 hour 26 minutes is too slow?) Then my my gears did not work properly causing my ride to be slower.

(Slower than what? You covered 112 miles in 8 hours)

My lower back muscles seized on the run which became a walk, so that was slower.

So instead of getting my goal of breaking 15 hours 30 minutes, it took me 16 hours and 2 minutes.

(But you finished.)

That doesn’t matter.

(You did this incredible thing that few people can say that they’ve achieved but you’re not happy?)

No, because I have to go back and do this again…& that was the moment where I realized it was time to step back.

So with 5 Ironman finishes under my belt, I decided it was time to walk away from it.

(You have said this before)

I know.

(Like 5 times, you have said this before)

I know, but this time I mean it.

(Uh huh…)

I’m retired from Ironman Triathlon.

(So, is this your last submission?)

Nah…there’s always another Roher adventure on the horizon. Besides, there are uglier people to be mistaken for than Tony Stark. Oh look…I just recieved an email…from the people at IRONMAN…

David Roher is a certified Triathlon & Marathon Coach. David is a multi Ironman finisher & a veteran special education teacher.

He can be reached at [email protected]

By David Roher